Oli McBurnie is back in dark blue. Five years after his last cap, the Hull City striker has been recalled as the headline name in Sebastien Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad, a selection that mixes redemption stories with a bold streak of experimentation.
The 30-year-old has not played for his country since 2021. Sixteen caps, no goals, but one nerveless penalty in that unforgettable shootout that carried Scotland to the delayed Euro 2020 finals. For a long time, that looked like the closing chapter. Under Pocognoli, it becomes a new prologue.
New era, new faces
McBurnie is far from the only fresh twist. Pocognoli has opened the door to a raft of uncapped players: Luis Binks of Brondby, Celtic defender Colby Donovan, goalkeeper Jon McCracken, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City’s Stephen Welsh all receive their first senior invitations.
As expected, Stoke City defender Luke Graham and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure also step up to the senior squad for the first time. Both have been circling this moment for months; now they have it.
There is a sense of continuity too. Goalkeeper Scott Bain, Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson are all recalled, familiar names returning to the fold. Che Adams, though, is absent, with reports in Italy indicating the Torino forward is injured. The door opens for others.
McBurnie’s second chance
McBurnie’s recall carries a certain weight. Once a regular squad member, often scrutinised, occasionally doubted, he now reappears under a new regime with the chance to reshape his international reputation. He has never scored for Scotland from open play, but that Euro 2020 playoff penalty still lingers in the memory. It spoke of nerve, if not yet of a prolific touch.
Pocognoli clearly believes there is more to come.
Dual nationals and defensive reshaping
Binks, 25, adds intrigue. The Brondby defender has represented both England and Scotland at age-group level and now edges towards a full commitment. Donovan, 20, has forced his way into the conversation with his form at Celtic, stepping in impressively for injured Canada right-back Alistair Johnston. Like McBurnie, Donovan has experience at under-19 and under-21 level; this is the natural next step, but it has come quickly.
Graham’s inclusion feels like overdue confirmation. After a breakout season with Dundee, in which he swept the club’s players’ player and young player of the year awards, he joined Scotland’s pre-World Cup training camp in May and sat on the bench for the send-off win over Curacao – Steve Clarke’s last match in charge at Hampden Park.
Now 22 and an ever-present in a Stoke City side unbeaten in their last four Championship games, he finally gets his shot. Three under-21 caps sit behind him. Senior football, at last, lies in front.
Hearts rewarded, but not all of them
At Tynecastle, Wouter Vrancken predicted Hearts representation, and he was right. McPake’s early-season form earns a first call, while his attacking team-mate James Wilson, already capped twice, is back in the national picture. Their inclusion underlines Pocognoli’s willingness to reward domestic form quickly, not just reputation.
Not everyone at Hearts benefits. Winger Calvin Miller misses out, a reminder that this new era will still carry hard edges.
Goalkeepers and a new back line
In goal, Bain returns, the Falkirk keeper adding experience with his four caps, while Bradford City’s McCracken also makes the squad, having previously been recognised by Clarke. Between them and the established options, Pocognoli has quietly reshaped the pecking order.
Welsh, now at Swansea City, stands on the brink of a first cap in central defence. On the flanks and in midfield, Bowie, Doig and Udinese’s Lennon Miller all make the cut, each bringing a different flavour: Bowie’s attacking versatility, Doig’s energy at left-back, Miller’s composure in the middle of the park.
Ure’s race against time
Perhaps the most intriguing inclusion is Robbie Ure. The former Rangers academy forward exploded in Sweden with Sirius, scoring 20 goals and adding three assists in 20 matches to haul the club to the top of the table. That run earned him a £5.5m move to Sevilla in the summer.
Spain has not yet seen the same return; Ure is still waiting for his first goal in La Liga. But the numbers from Sweden, and the potential ceiling, are hard to ignore.
So is the passport. Eligible for Ukraine as well as Scotland, Ure represents exactly the sort of player a new national coach wants to secure early. Pocognoli’s decision to bring him in now feels pointed: get him in the camp, get him on the pitch, and remove any doubt about where his future lies.
Attack reshaped without Adams
The selection of Bowie, McBurnie, Ure and Wilson in attacking roles comes as Adams sits out, with reports of injury at Torino. The spine of Scotland’s forward line shifts in an instant. Proven Premier League pedigree is replaced by a mix of redemption arcs, raw potential and untested promise.
Pocognoli’s first squad is not a gentle tweak. It is a statement. Established names return, dual nationals are courted, young form players are fast-tracked, and a long-absent striker is handed one more chance to finally find his goal for Scotland.
Now the question hangs over Hampden: can this new blend carry the same steel as the old guard, or will Pocognoli’s gamble define the next chapter of Scotland’s story?
